Folding seat hinge

ABSTRACT

A folding seat hinge ( 10 ) having a first hinge member ( 16 ) with an arcuate slot ( 46 ) radially displaced from the pivot axis ( 40 ) of the hinge. A second hinge member ( 12 ) is disposed with respect to one side ( 54 ) of the first member ( 16 ) to fully cover the slot ( 46 ) over the full range of pivoting motion of the hinge members ( 12, 16 ). A guide pin ( 58 ) is coupled to the second member ( 12 ), extends through the arcuate slot ( 46 ) in the first member ( 16 ) and functions to limit the pivoting motion between the hinge members. A cover plate ( 70 ) is disposed with respect to an opposite side ( 72 ) of the first hinge member ( 16 ) to fully cover the slot ( 46 ) over the full range of pivoting motion. A pivot pin ( 14 ) secures the hinge members ( 12, 16 ) and the cover plate ( 70 ) in an assembly and provides the axis of rotation ( 40 ) for the hinge members.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/034,500 filed Mar. 4, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,190 for FOLDINGSEAT HINGE, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 08/707,235 filed Sep. 3, 1996 for FOLDING SEAT HINGE, now U.S.Pat. No. 5,725,279.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to folding chairs or seats and moreparticularly, to hinges for moving seat backs between a lower, foldedposition and a generally upright position for seating.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many boats have a folding chair or seat in which the seat back ismovable between generally upright and folded positions with respect to aseat bottom. A pair of hinges are often used to connect the folding seatback to the seat bottom and are often located at and extend along thesides of the seat back and the seat bottom. Each hinge of the pair iseither identical to or a mirror image of the other hinge. Each of thepair of hinges often includes first and second metal plates that arepivotally connected at their ends. The first metal plate is connected atone side of the seat back with a first end extending therefrom, and thesecond metal plate is connected to a common side of the seat bottom witha second end extending therefrom. The adjacent extending ends of themetal plates are held together with rivets or pins that provide an axisof rotation for the movable, first metal plate and the seat back withrespect to the fixed, second metal plate and the seat bottom. Therefore,being interconnected by the pair of hinges laterally located withrespect to the seat, the seat back can be easily moved between theupright and folded positions.

Preferably the hinge is designed such that throughout the extent ofmotion of the movable hinge member connected to the seat back, noopenings are created between the relatively moving hinge members thatcould pinch the finger or hand of a user. While it is impossible toeliminate the relative motion between the hinge members, it is desirablethat during their relative motion, there are no edges on one hingemember that sweep over surfaces of the other hinge member. Such arelative motion between an edge and a surface has the potential ofcreating a pinch point. Further, such relative motion normally resultsin the edge reaching a position where it bears against the other hingemember in a supporting relationship to first, control the extent ofmotion of the seat back with respect to the seat bottom and second, toprovide a mechanical support for the seat back when the seat isgenerally upright and in use. Anytime an edge and a surface haverelative motion, the potential for a pinch point exists. Further, if theedge contacts and bears against the other hinge member, a larger pinchpoint exists.

For purposes of our discussion, an edge of the movable hinge member maymove over a surface of the fixed hinge member, or a surface of themovable hinge member may sweep under an edge of the fixed hinge member.Often, such edges are generally parallel to the axis of rotation of thehinge. In addition, other edges which may result in pinching are thosethat move over a hinge member surface that extends laterally withrespect to the seat and perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

Therefore, there is a need for a folding seat hinge, the construction ofwhich does not contain exposed edges on one member that move withrespect to a surface of the other member during the hinge motion. Such ahinge construction should also provide a mechanism for limiting themotion of one hinge member with respect to the other hinge member, butwithout creating pinch points.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a folding seat hinge that has asymmetrical, sturdy and pleasing appearance, is lightweight andeliminates potential pinch points between the moving hinge member andthe fixed hinge member. The hinge of the present invention furtherlimits the relative motion between the hinge members and is particularlysuitable for use with folding seats on boats.

According to the principles of the present invention, and in accordancewith the described embodiments, the folding seat hinge has pivotallyinterconnected first and second hinge members that are connected betweena seat back and a seat bottom. The first hinge member has an arcuateslot radially displaced from the pivot axis of the hinge members. Thesecond member is disposed with respect to one side of the first memberto fully cover the slot over the full range of pivoting motion of thehinge members. A cover plate is disposed with respect to an oppositeside of the first hinge member, and the cover plate is sized so as tofully cover the slot over the full range of pivoting motion of the hingemembers. A guide pin coupled to the second member, extends through thearcuate slot in the first member and functions to limit the pivotingmotion between the hinge members. A pivot pin secures the hinge membersand the cover plate in an assembly and provides the axis of rotation forthe hinge members. The above construction provides a mechanism forlimiting hinge motion that is completely contained within the hinge, andtherefore, has the advantage of having no pinch points.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the folding seat hinge in accordancewith the principles of the present invention illustrated in the open,generally upright position.

FIG. 1A is a side elevation view of the folding seat hinge of FIG. 1illustrated in the folded position.

FIG. 2 is a cross section view taken along the line 2—2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of thefolding seat hinge in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a cross section view taken along the line 4—4 in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the folding seat hinge 10 has a first or lowermember 12 that is pivotally connected by the pivot pin 14 with a secondor upper hinge member 16. The first member 12 includes a generallyhorizontal lower section 18 that includes a right angle mounting flange20. The mounting flange 20 is adapted to be connected to the undersideof a seat bottom or cushion 22 using screws, bolts, rivets, otherfasteners or an adhesive. The seat bottom 22 is mounted in known ways toa structure. For example, on a boat, the seat bottom 22 is often mountedto a centrally located column or pedestal that extends between theunderside of the seat bottom 22 and the deck (not shown) of the boat.Further, the pedestal supporting the seat bottom 22 often provides apivoting or swiveling of the seat 10. The lower section 18 of firsthinge member 12 extends from the underside of the seat cushion 22 upwardand along a side of the seat cushion 22.

The first hinge member 12 further has an upper or second section 26 thatangles upwardly from and along the side of the seat bottom 22. The uppersection 26 also has a right angle flange 28 extending inward toward themid-section of the seat 10 and provides strength and rigidity to thelower hinge member 12. The upper hinge member 16 extends generally alonga side of the folding seat back 30 and includes a right angle mountingflange 32 that is attached to a rear side of the seat back 30 by bolts,screws, other fasteners or an adhesive. As will be appreciated, a mirrorimage of the hinge 10 is mounted on opposite sides of the seat bottom 22and the seat back 30. Therefore, the hinges 10 permit the seat back 30to be moved between generally upright and folded positions with respectto the seat bottom 22.

The folding seat hinge is shown in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1and 2. The upper section 26 of the lower hinge member 12 has aconnective end 36 with a generally circular arc forming its perimeter38. The circular arc is located a fixed radius from the centerline ofthe pivot pin 14 which is colinear with the axis of rotation 40. Theupper hinge member 16 has a connective end 42 that also has a generallycircular arc forming its perimeter 44 and located a fixed radius fromthe axis of rotation 40. Preferably, the radii of the perimeters 38 and44 are equal. The connective end 42 of the second hinge member 16contains a pair of arcuate slots 46. The slots 46 have opposing sideswith a generally circular shape located a second constant radius fromthe axis of rotation 40. Preferably the centerlines of the slots 46 arelocated approximately at the midpoint of the radius of the perimeter 44.The connective end 36 of the first hinge member 12 has an inner directedsurface 52 disposed adjacent an inner directed side 54 of the connectiveend 42 of the second hinge member 16. Further, since the radii of theperimeters 38, 44 are substantially equal, the connective end 36 coversthe entire area of the slots 46 over the full range of motion betweenthe hinge members 12, 14.

The hinge 10 includes an intermediate plate 50 mounted between the innerdirected surfaces 52 and 54 of the respective connective ends 36, 42 ofthe first and second hinge members 12, 16, respectively. Theintermediate plate 50 further preferably has a circular perimeter 56with a center line coincident with the axis of rotation 40 and a radiussubstantially equal to the radii of the perimeters 38, 44 of therespective connective ends 36, 42. Therefore, the intermediate plate 50covers the entire area of the slots 46 over the full range of motionbetween the hinge members 12, 14.

The intermediate plate 50 has a pair of pins 58 extending from an innerside 62 of the plate 50 and through the slots 46 in connective end 42 ofthe upper hinge member 16. The slots 46 have a length such that firstends or stop surfaces 64 contact pins 58 to limit motion of the upperhinge member 16 in moving the seat back 30 to a generally upright,unfolded, open position. The slots 46 have second ends or stop surfaces66 that bear against the pins 58 to limit motion of the upper hingemember 16 when the seat back 30 is moved to a lower, folded positionshown in FIG. 1A.

The folding seat hinge 10 further includes a cover plate 70 that islocated over an outer surface 72 of the connective end 42 of the upperhinge member 16. The cover plate preferably has a circular perimeter 74with a center line coincident with the axis of rotation 40. The circularperimeter 74 further preferably has a radius substantially equal to theradii of the intermediate plate 50 and the perimeters 38, 44 of therespective connective ends 36, 42 of the first and second hinge members12, 16, respectively. Therefore, the cover plate 70 has an area that iseffective to cover the full areas of the slots 46 throughout the fullrange of relative motion of the hinge members 12, 16.

The pivot pin 14 is preferably a nut and bolt, a rivet or other fastenerthat extends through the first and second hinge members 12,16, theintermediate plate 50, and the cover plate 70 to secure those hingeelements into a hinge assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the coverplate 70 includes holes 76 through which the pins 58 extend. Inaddition, the connective end 36 of the upper section 26 of the firsthinge member 12 has holes 78, and the pins 58 extend from an outersurface 80 through the holes 78 in the connective end 36 of the firsthinge member 12. As will be appreciated, the detailed construction ofthe hinge 10 described above applies to the mirror image hinge attachedto the opposite side of the seat bottom 22 and the seat back 30.

In use, when the seat back 30 is moved to the generally upright, openposition illustrated in FIG. 1, the pins 58 contact and are supported bythe ends 64 of the slots 46. With the motion of the seat back 30 solimited, a person sitting in the seat 10 and leaning back against theseat back 30 is adequately supported by the hinge 10. The user may atany time choose to move the seat back 30 to the lower, folded positionshown in FIG. 1A. In that motion, the user pivots the seat back 30, andthe attached upper hinge members 16 in a clockwise direction asillustrated in FIG. 1 to move the seat to the lower or folded positionas shown in FIG. 1A. In that process, as the upper hinge member 16 isrotated, its connective end 44 and the slots 46 are similarly rotatedwith respect to the axis of rotation 40. That rotation continues untilthe ends or stop surfaces 66 of the slots 46 contact the guide pins 58,thereby limiting the pivoting motion of the seat back 30.

During the motion of the seat back 30 and upper hinge member 16 withrespect to the seat bottom 18 and lower hinge member 12, the lower hingemember 12, the intermediate plate 50, the guide pins 58, the cover plate70, and preferably, the pivot pin 14 remain stationary, and the upperhinge section 16 moves relative to those stationary elements. The upperhinge member 16 moves relative to the circular perimeters 56, 74 of theintermediate plate 50 and cover plate 70, respectively. Since therelative motion between the upper hinge member 16 and the perimeters 38,74 is defined along a continuous circular path, and the perimeters 38,74 do not move across a surface of the upper hinge section 16, it isalmost impossible for that relative circular motion to create a pinchpoint. Since the cover plate 70 covers the slots 46 in their entiretyover the full range of motion of the upper hinge member 16, a secondadvantage is that there are no pinch points exposed to the user by themotion of the slots 46 with respect to the pins 58. Further, theconnective ends 38, 42 of the respective first and second hinge members12, 16, the intermediate plate 50, and the cover plate 70 havesubstantially identical radii. Therefore, advantageously the relativemotion of the perimeter 44 of the second hinge member 16, with respectto the perimeters 56, 74 of the respective intermediate plate 50 andcover plate 70 cannot, as a practical matter, create a pinchingrelationship with the stationary adjacent perimeters 56, 74.

Preferably, the hinge members 12, 16 are made of aluminum, and the coverplate 70 and the intermediate plate 50 and guide pins 58 are made from a“NYLON” material. The intermediate plate 50 has a thicknessapproximately equal to the thickness of the hinge members 12, 16 and iseffective to strengthen the hinge assembly and stabilize the relativemotion between the hinge members 12, 16. The pins 58, connected to theintermediate plate 50, extend through holes 76, 78 of the cover plate 70and connective end 36 of the first hinge member 12 so that preferably,all of those elements remain stationary and mechanically coupled withthe first hinge member 12 during the relative motion of the second hingemember 16.

Extending the pins 58 through the cover plate 70 provides anotheradvantageous feature. If the pins were covered by the cover plate 70,and one of the pins would fracture and separate from the intermediateplate 50, that fractured pin would have no load-carrying capability andwould offer no support for the seat back 30 when in the uprightposition. Therefore, the entire load of a person seated in the seat 10would undesirably, be carried by only one of the pins 58. Since the pins58 extend through the holes 76 in the cover plate 70, if one of the pins58 fractures and separates from the intermediate plate 50, it will dropout from its respective hole 76, thereby providing a visual indicationthat the pin and the hinge is broken.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the hinge in whichthe intermediate plate 50 of FIG. 2 and its protruding pins 58 are notused. Instead, a first plate or washer 90 is mounted between the opposedsurfaces 52 and 54 of the respective connective ends 36, 42 of the firstand second hinge members 12, 16, respectively. A second plate or washer92 is mounted between the surface 94 of connective end 42 of the secondhinge member 16 and an opposed surface 96 of the cover plate 70. Thedisks 90, 92 are normally circular with center holes 93, 95,respectively, sized to receive the pivot pin 14. The plates 90, 92normally have a radius less than the radial location of the slots 46,that is, the plates 90, 92 extend up to but do not overlap the slots 46.Fasteners 98 extend through the holes 78 of the connective end 36 of thefirst hinge member 12, through the slots 46 of the connective end 42 ofthe second hinge 16 and through the holes 76 of the cover plate 70. Thefasteners 98 are normally stainless steel rivets but may also be screws,bolts or other appropriate fasteners.

The hinge in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 operates identically aspreviously described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.The plates 90, 92 perform several functions. First, they function tomaintain a first separation between the connective ends 36, 42 and asecond separation between the connective end 42 and the cover plate 70.Those parts are normally made of aluminum which is a softer metal.Aluminum parts rubbing against each other have a tendency to pick up andwear more quickly. By maintaining the aluminum components separated in anoncontacting relationship, the hinge operates more reliably over alonger period of time. The plates 90, 92 also function as clutch plates,that is, they provide limited frictional forces between the moving upperhinge member 16 and the plates 90, 92. Thus, the seat back 30 does notmove too freely and tends to stay in intermediate positions between theunfolded and folded positions. Finally, the plates 90, 92 function aswear components and are designed to provide a higher wear than thealuminum components. To provide the above functions, the plates 90, 92are normally made from a graphite impregnated nylon or a mylar and havea thickness of approximately 0.015 inches.

The lower hinge member 12 of FIG. 3 has a further difference from thatillustrated in FIG. 1. The flange 28 of FIG. 1 is shown as a flange 100in FIG. 3 and includes a portion 102 extending over the mounting flange20. The flange portion 102 is secured to the mounting flange 20 byrivets (not shown) or the mounting fasteners (not shown) that mount thehinge member 12 to the seat 22.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description ofthe preferred embodiment, and while the preferred embodiment has beendescribed in considerable detail, it is not the intention to restrict orin any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail.Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those whoare skilled in the art. For example, the pins 58 could be rigidlyconnected to the connective end 36 of the first hinge member 12 andextend through the intermediate plate 50 and into the slots 46. In thatembodiment, the intermediate plate 50 could be made substantiallythinner than the thickness of the hinge members 12, 16, or in analternative embodiment, not used in the hinge assembly.

In addition, the length of the pins 58 could be shortened such that theyextend only through the slots 46 and not into the holes 76 of a coverplate 70. In that embodiment, the cover plate 70 can be a solid memberwithout the holes 76. Even though with that embodiment, the cover platemay experience some motion as the upper hinge member 16 is moved withrespect to the lower hinge member 12, that motion will not create apinch point. In a further alternative, the pins 58 may be connected ormade integral with the cover plate 70. Preferably, the portions of thepins 58 extending from both sides of the intermediate plate 50 aresubstantially colinear. Alternatively, the pins extending from one sideof the intermediate plate 50 may have a different location with respectto the pins extending from the opposite side of the intermediate plate50. Further, the pins 58 extending from the opposite sides of theintermediate plate 50 may have different diameters.

Further, in the preferred embodiment the slots 46 and mating pins 58 aresymmetrically located in the connective end 42, that is, they aregenerally opposite each other. In other embodiments, the slots may berelocated. They both may be shifted in a circumferential direction withrespect to each other; or they both may be shifted radially with respectto the axis of rotation. Therefore, the slots may be located at the sameor different radii and in any circumferential position with respect toeach other. In fact, the slots may be moved to be located at differentradii but at the same circumferential location, that is, parallel toeach other.

In a further alternative, the radius of the perimeter 44 at theconnective end 42 may be slightly less than the radius of the adjacentperimeters 56, 74, thereby further minimizing the exposure to the userof the circular motion of the perimeter 44. As will be appreciated, theposition of the first hinge member 12 and the second hinge member 16 maybe reversed within the hinge assembly so that the slots 46 are in thefirst hinge member 12 located between the intermediate plate 50 and thecover plate 70.

The invention, therefore, in its broadest aspects is not limited to thespecific details shown and described. Consequently, departures may bemade from the details described herein without departing from the spiritand scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hinge for connecting a folding seat back to aseat bottom, the folding seat back being movable between generallyupright and folded positions with respect to the seat bottom, the hingecomprising: a first member having a mounting surface adapted to beconnected to one of the seat back and the seat bottom, the first memberhaving opposed stop surfaces; a second member having a mounting surfaceadapted to be connected to the other of the seat back and the seatbottom and being disposed adjacent one side of the first member suchthat over a full range of relative motion between the first and secondmembers, the second member fully covers an area between the opposed stopsurfaces on the one side of the first member; a cover plate disposedadjacent an opposite side of the first member, the cover plate beingsized to fully cover the area between the opposed stop surfaces on theouter side of the first member over the full range of relative motionbetween the first and second members; a guide pin carried by the secondmember and extending between the opposed stop surfaces in the firstmember, the stop surfaces of first member stopping relative motionbetween the guide pin and the first member to define limits of the fullrange of relative pivoting motion between the first and second members;and a pivot pin providing relative pivoting motion between the first andsecond members and securing the first and second members and the coverplate in a hinge assembly that, over the full range of motion, does nothave pinch points.
 2. A hinge for connecting a folding seat back to aseat bottom, the folding seat back being movable between generallyupright and folded positions with respect to the seat bottom, the hingecomprising: a first member adapted to be connected to one of the seatback and the seat bottom, the first member having a first hole and twoopposed stop surfaces; a second member having a first hole and a secondhole and adapted to be connected to the other of the seat back and theseat bottom, the second member being disposed adjacent one side of thefirst member such that over a full range of relative motion between thefirst and second members, the second member fully covering an areabetween the opposed stop surfaces on the one side of the first member; acover plate having a first hole and a second hole and being disposedadjacent an opposite side of the first member, the cover plate beingsized to fully cover the area between the stop surfaces on the oppositeside of the first member over the full range of relative motion betweenthe first and second members; a first fastener extending through thesecond hole in the second member, between the stop surfaces in the firstmember and through the second hole in the cover plate, the opposed stopsurfaces in the first member stopping relative motion between the firstfastener and the first member to define limits of the full range ofrelative motion between the first and second members; and a secondfastener extending through the first holes in the first and secondmembers and the cover plate and providing a pivot for relative motion ofthe first member with respect to the second member and the cover plate,the second fastener securing the first and second members and the coverplate in hinge assembly that, over the full range of motion, does nothave pinch points.
 3. A hinge for connecting a folding seat back to aseat bottom, the folding seat back being movable between generallyupright and folded positions with respect to the seat bottom, the hingecomprising: a first member having a first end adapted to be connected toone of the seat back and the seat bottom, the first member having asecond end terminating in a generally circular arc having a firstradius, the second end of the first member having two opposed stopsurfaces; a second member disposed adjacent one side of the firstmember, the second member having a first end adapted to be connected tothe other of the seat back and the seat bottom, the second member havinga second end terminating in a generally circular arc having the firstradius; a cover plate disposed adjacent an opposite side of the firstmember, the cover plate having a generally circular shape determined bythe first radius; a stop carried by the second member and extendingbetween the opposed stop surfaces of the first member to define limitsof relative pivoting motion between the first and second members; and apivot pin securing the first and second members and the cover plate inan assembly such that the circular arcs of the first and second membersand the cover plate are coextensive, the pivot pin, the first and secondmembers and the cover plate forming a hinge assembly that over the fullrange of motion, does not have pinch points.
 4. A hinge for connecting afolding seat back to a seat bottom, the folding seat back being movablebetween generally upright and folded positions with respect to the seatbottom, the hinge comprising: a first member having a first end adaptedto be connected to one of the seat back and the seat bottom, the firstmember having a second end terminating in a generally circular archaving a first radius, the second end of the first member having twoopposed stop surfaces; a second member disposed adjacent one side of thefirst member, the second member having a first end adapted to beconnected to the other of the seat back and the seat bottom, the secondmember having a second end terminating in a generally circular archaving the first radius; a cover plate disposed adjacent an oppositeside of the first member, the cover plate having a generally circularshape determined by the first radius; a first fastener extending throughthe second member, between the opposed stop surfaces of the first memberand through the cover plate, the opposed stop surfaces stopping relativemotion between the first fastener and the first member to define limitsof relative pivoting motion between the first and second members; and asecond fastener securing the first and second members and the coverplate in an assembly such that the circular arcs of the first and secondmembers and the cover plate are coextensive, the first and secondfasteners, the first and second members and the cover plate forming ahinge assembly that over the full range of motion, does not have pinchpoints.
 5. A seat hinge for connecting a folding seat back to a seatbottom comprising: a first hinge member having at least two spaced apartstop surfaces; a second hinge member being disposed on one side of thefirst hinge member and having a motion limiting projection extendingbetween the spaced apart stop surfaces, the second hinge member coveringany space between the opposed stop surfaces on the one side of the firsthinge member over a full range of relative motion between the first andsecond hinge members; a cover disposed adjacent an opposite side of thefirst hinge member, the cover covering the space between the opposedstop surfaces on the opposite side of the first hinge member over thefull range of relative motion between the first and second hingemembers; and means connecting the first and second hinge members and thecover together and providing relative pivoting motion between the firstand second hinge members, the stop surfaces of first hinge memberstopping relative motion between the projection and the first hingemember to define limits of the full range of relative pivoting motionbetween the first and second hinge members.
 6. A seat hinge forpivotally attaching a seat back to a seat bottom comprising: a firstmember having spaced apart stops; a second member being disposed on oneside of the first member and conveying a motion limiting projectionextending between the spaced apart stops and defining therewith alimited pivotal range of motion between the first and second members,the second member covering any space between the opposed stops on theone side of the first member over a full range of motion between thefirst and second members; means connecting the first and second memberstogether and providing relative pivoting motion between the first andsecond members; and a cover disposed adjacent an opposite side of thefirst member, the cover covering the space between the opposed stopsurfaces on the opposite side of the first member over the full range ofrelative motion between the first and second members, so that over afull range of motion between the first and second members the seat hingedoes not have pinch points.
 7. A seat hinge for pivotally attaching aseat back to a seat bottom comprising: a first member having an insidesurface including a projection receiving pathway with at least one stopsurface; a cover disposed adjacent an outside surface of the firstmember and fully covering the pathway: and a second member beingdisposed adjacent the inside surface of the first member and pivotallyconnected to the first member, the second member having a stop memberprojecting therefrom and into the pathway of the first member, the stopmember and the at least one stop surface defining a limited pivotalrange of motion between the first and second members, the second membercovering the pathway on the inside surface of the first member so thatover a full range of motion between the first and second members theseat hinge does not have pinch points.
 8. A hinge for connecting afolding seat back to a seat bottom, the folding seat back being movablebetween generally upright and folded positions with respect to the seatbottom, the hinge comprising: a first member adapted to be connected toone of the seat back and the seat bottom, the first member having anarcuate slot; a second member adapted to be connected to the other ofthe seat back and the seat bottom and being disposed with respect to thefirst member such that over a full range of relative motion between thefirst and second members, the second member fully covers an area of theslot on an inner side of the first member; a cover plate disposedadjacent an outer side of the first member, the cover plate being sizedto fully cover the area of the slot on the outer side of the firstmember over the full range of relative motion between the first andsecond members; a first fastener extending through the second member,through the slot in the first member and the cover plate, the slot inthe first member having ends for stopping relative motion between thefirst fastener and the slot to define limits of relative pivoting motionbetween the first and second members; and a second fastener securing thefirst and second members and the cover plate in an assembly providingrelative pivoting motion between the first and second members withrespect to the second fastener over the full range of relative motionthat does not have pinch points.
 9. The hinge of claim 8 wherein thecover plate and second member have first holes adjacent the first slotand the first fastener extends through respective first holes in thecover plate and the second member and the first slot of the firstmember.
 10. The hinge of claim 9 wherein the first and second membersand the cover plate have second holes and the second fastener extendsthrough respective second holes in the first and second members and thecover plate.
 11. The hinge of claim 10 wherein the first member has asecond slot.
 12. The hinge of claim 11 wherein the cover plate andsecond member have third holes adjacent the second slot and a thirdfastener extends through respective third holes in the second member andthe cover plate and the second slot of the first member.
 13. The hingeof claim 12 wherein the second slot in the first member is an arcuateslot.
 14. The hinge of claim 12 wherein the first, second and thirdfasteners are rivets.
 15. The hinge of claim 8 further comprising afirst spacer located between the first and second members.
 16. The hingeof claim 15 further comprising a second spacer located between the firstmember and the cover plate.
 17. The hinge of claim 16 wherein the firstand second spacers are made from a mylar material.
 18. The hinge ofclaim 17 wherein the first and second spacers are made from a graphiteimpregnated nylon material.
 19. A hinge for connecting a folding seatback to a seat bottom, the folding seat back being movable betweengenerally upright and folded positions with respect to the seat bottom,the hinge comprising: a first member adapted to be connected to one ofthe seat back and the seat bottom, the first member having an arcuateslot; a second member adapted to be connected to the other of the seatback and the seat bottom and being disposed with respect to the firstmember such that over a full range of relative motion between the firstand second members, the second member fully covers an area of the sloton an inner side of the first member; a cover plate disposed adjacent anouter side of the first member, the cover plate being sized to fullycover the area of the slot on the outer side of the first member overthe full range of relative motion between the first and second members;a first fastener extending through the second member, through the slotin the first member and the cover plate, the slot in the first memberhaving ends for stopping relative motion between the first fastener andthe slot to define limits of relative pivoting motion between the firstand second members; and a second fastener extending through the secondmember, through the first member and the cover plate for securing thefirst and second members and the cover plate in an assembly providingrelative pivoting motion between the first and second members withrespect to the second fastener over a full range of motion that does nothave pinch points.